Afghan Refugee CHARGED WITH ASSAULT For Blocking Betsy DeVos From Entering Public School (VIDEO)

PROTESTER WHO CLASHED WITH DEVOS PLEADS NOT GUILTY: A 31-year-old protester over the weekend pleaded not guilty to assault charges in connection with the headline-making incident in which Education Secretary Betsy DeVos was temporarily blocked from entering a Washington, D.C., middle school on Friday.

— Policeidentified the protester as Bilal Ahmed Askaryar of Washington. He faces charges of misdemeanor assault and failing to obey an officer during the demonstration outside of Jefferson Middle School Academy. Askaryar came to the United States as a 5-year-old refugee from Afghanistan, according to biographical information included in commentary he wrote last month for NPR in response to the executive order issued by President Donald Trump sharply curtailing travel from seven majority-Muslim nations. The article said he became a naturalized citizen in 2000 and earned a graduate degree from American University.